1 David finished talking to Saul. After that, Jonathan became David’s closest friend. He loved David as much as ⌊he loved⌋ himself.
2 (From that day on Saul kept David ⌊as his servant⌋ and didn’t let him go back to his family.)
3 So Jonathan made a pledge of mutual loyalty with David because he loved him as much as ⌊he loved⌋ himself.
4 Jonathan took off the coat he had on and gave it to David along with his battle tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 David was successful wherever Saul sent him. Saul put him in charge of the fighting men. This pleased all the people, including Saul’s officials.
6 As they arrived, David was returning from a campaign against the Philistines. Women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced, accompanied by tambourines, joyful music, and triangles.